Short answer. Chile has no technical standard for blast or fallout shelters. The binding rule that does exist covers emergency housing (vivienda de emergencia) for people whose home was destroyed: SENAPRED Resolution 2.161 exenta, signed on 29 December 2025 and published in the Diario Oficial on 6 January 2026, sets minimum habitability standards and who qualifies 1. For tsunamis, SENAPRED's rule is to evacuate horizontally first, and only if that is impossible to go up a building of at least eight floors 2.
What is a vivienda de emergencia?
By law, it is temporary housing meant to meet the housing need of people affected by an emergency or catastrophe 1. SENAPRED may commission its construction after earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, fires and similar events 1. Because it is temporary, it needs no permit or final approval from the municipal works department 1. Resolution 2.161 replaced the earlier standards of Resolution 1.448 exenta of 2023 1.
What does the standard require?
Resolution 2.161 sets minimum technical requirements for each unit 1:
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Useful floor area | 24.0 m² |
| Interior air volume | 55.0 m³ |
| Bathroom | 2.2 m², not counted in the useful area |
| Interior partition | Creates a separate room |
| Technical warranty | 6 months from acceptance |
The resolution also sets specifications for foundations, floors, walls, insulation and fire resistance, allows a unit adapted for a family member with reduced mobility, and each supplier's design and plans must be sent to and approved by SENAPRED 1. These are procurement specifications for manufacturers, not instructions for the public.
Who can receive one?
The municipality channels requests to SENAPRED's regional office 1. The beneficiary must meet these criteria 1:
- the home has lost its habitability and cannot be repaired, as verified by the municipal Informe ALFA and the Ficha Básica de Emergencia (FIBE);
- the family owns the plot, or has written permission from the owner to install the unit;
- it was the family's only residence (second homes and commercial premises are excluded);
- the site is outside any hydrometeorological or other risk zone, which the municipality checks first;
- the plot is large enough for the unit.
Units are acquired by SENAPRED's regional offices and handed over in ownership to the affected person or family, in coordination with the municipality 1.
What is the rule for tsunami vertical evacuation?
SENAPRED says to prioritise horizontal evacuation to a meeting point or safety area (Punto de Encuentro, Área de Seguridad). Only if that is not possible should you consider vertical evacuation to a building of at least eight floors, going as high as possible 2. Evacuation maps by address are explained on our public shelters in Chile page.
Can I apply these standards to a private shelter?
No. The resolution governs state-supplied emergency housing 1. We found no Chilean rule that sets requirements for a private bunker. Any structure must be designed by a qualified engineer and comply with municipal building rules. Phaenyx does not give construction instructions; see building a shelter.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the official text?
In the Diario Oficial of 6 January 2026 (CVE 2749766), also hosted by SENAPRED 1.
Do I need a building permit for an emergency unit?
No. The law exempts emergency housing from the municipal permit and final approval 1.
Does any building count as a tsunami refuge?
SENAPRED names no list; its guidance is a building of at least eight floors, as a second option 2.
Sources
- Servicio Nacional de Prevención y Respuesta ante Desastres (SENAPRED) — Resolución Nº 2.161 exenta, de 2025: Establece estándares de habitabilidad de viviendas de emergencia y deja sin efecto la resolución Nº 1.448 exenta, de 2023 (Diario Oficial, 6 de enero de 2026) — https://media.senapred.cl/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/02121321/Diario-Oficial-CVE-2749766.pdf (accessed 2026-10-27)
- SENAPRED — Tsunami — https://senapred.cl/tsunami/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Chile, worked out for your household.
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Sources
- Servicio Nacional de Prevención y Respuesta ante Desastres (SENAPRED) · Resolución Nº 2.161 exenta, de 2025: Establece estándares de habitabilidad de viviendas de emergencia y deja sin efecto la resolución Nº 1.448 exenta, de 2023 (Diario Oficial, 6 de enero de 2026) checked 2026-10-27
- SENAPRED · Tsunami checked 2026-10-27